02BeaugusWS6

i found a good deal on a hard top formula and i was just wondering if any of you hard top owners ever regret not getting a t-top car?

SSwt00SS

iTrader: (18)

1st f-body was a '95 z28 hardtop, loved it. sold it for a 00 SS with t-tops (the only way i would do t-tops was all black). now my '95 TA is a hardtop and its what i wanted. not to many around anymore.

i prefer hardtop due to increased body rigidness, offers increased vehicle secuirty, reduced risks of leaks, not having to worry bout a t-top flying out/off while driving and to me, cleaner body line...

BayareaCobra

Real men drive hardtops, just kidding.. They leak, they rattle, and they detract from the stiffness of the chassis. Other than that they are nice to have every once in awhile, (I guess ).

araber89

iTrader: (3)

T-Tops don't fly out if you just remember to lock them in

SSwt00SS

iTrader: (18)

personally, ive never had the problem, but a friend of mine about 2 yrs ago had his locked and while on the highway we hit on of those lovely dips and it flexed the chassis and "POP" out went his t-top on the highway shattering in pieces...

definately one of those WTF moments...

:wtf:

white2001formula

iTrader: (5)

I love my hardtop. I don't regret getting one at all, except on that one or two summer days when I actually have the dumdumdumdumdum out and it "might" be nice. My favorite this is the rarity of it. Rather than someone ******* you that you don't have them...they may not realize that it actually is a rare, no BS, racing version of Firebirds.

The only advantage I would think is if you ever wanted to paint the top, you would have the option to paint a hardtop any color (or have a stripe all the way through) With T-tops you're limited to....well black for the top/Sail panel color.

My 2 cents.

WSsick

iTrader: (13)

somwhere around ehre theres a post i saw proving that you lose little to no structural rigidity through ttops. just thought id throw it out there. maybe someone will chime in with it.

noriceinside

iTrader: (6)

yeah hardtop cars and t-top cars both have the t-frame for the roof. only difference is hardtops have the fiberglass roof panel. so theres no difference in chassis stiffness.

as for leaks, the weatherstripping screw holes are slotted, so a few adjustments and the leaks should go away. worked for me.

and i dont see how t-tops should ever fly off. you dont even have to lock them. just make sure the handle is securely closed.

02BeaugusWS6

thanks for the replies guys! i never had a problem with the t-tops on my 02 WS6 but now i'm looking at this 98 formula and just wanted someone else's opinion on having a hardtop

Texfinn

iTrader: (39)

Not a fan of hardtops at all. I've had one and that was enough. I started missing the T-tops in less than a month.

When ever I get my next F-body, if I can help it at all, it will definetely have at least T-tops.

PGUFF

iTrader: (12)

i have a hardtop and like it, i would never take the t-tops off anyway

slow ride 02

I had to order my hard top. No one had any. I love it. T-top's are for chick's

ndfrsd6

iTrader: (5)

i love my hardtop and would not have it any other way

01m6ss

iTrader: (1)

i like my hardtop..

Lotus289

iTrader: (1)

I didn't mind my hardtop. When I bought the car I was afraid of leaks and wondered how often I'd really take them out if I got them. Fast forward 5 years and a T-Top conversion later, I don't regret it one bit. I wish I would've held out for a T-Top car when I first got mine. I take my tops out all the damn time! Even on the 10 min drive home from work. I'll pull them out at work and put them back in when I get home; doesn't bother me a bit. One thing is I love the open feel but still have the looks I want vs. a 'vert. 2nd, I LOVE the looks I still get when I pull the 'roof' off the car in random parking lots. People just gawk and stare when they see that the glass tops are removable. I even get looks on the road. You can see people pointing and my roof and them point at their roof; probably explaining it to the others in the car.

As for the pros and cons (and this is just my personal experience / opinion):
-My car leaked more when I had the hard top no matter how much I adjusted it. Now that it's a T-Top I don't get a single drop inside.
-Chassis stiffness: I noticed a big difference in rigidity when I cut the T-Tops in. Those bars over the doors add quite a bit of structure IMO; no matter what others say. But some 3-pt SFC's solved that problem and it's better now than it was as a hard top.
-They squeak like a mother when it's cold. But if you already have a T-Top you probably know that.

RaggedRides

iTrader: (8)

If it's a good deal, snag it. Mine's a hard top and I don't regret it a bit. I didn't really care what it came with.


Besides, conversions aren't that pricey.

billymz28

I have had 3 hard tops and no regrets but i also wanted a hardtop.

Golf&GM

iTrader: (22)

I've had both t-tops and hardtops. Sometime with the t-tops I've wished I didn't have them because of the sun in my eyes, gets hot in the summer, and I had one fly out. But they're fun on nice days. When I had a hardtop I forgot t-tops even existed, and it didn't bother me at all.

Drunken_Deity

T-tops are great, they do squeak sometimes but only when its cold. No leaks ever(my car was even wreak too lol)

BadBandit69

iTrader: (13)

hard top cars are lighter too.